Non-inferior clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer patients with interstitial lung disease

•A largest cohort including 49 of NSCLC patients with pre-exiting ILD.•The clinical outcomes showed no statistical difference between ILD and Non-ILD group.•Checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis was more frequently observed in ILD group.•NSCLC patients with ILD could be probable candidates for ICI. The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) is unclear. Retrospective medical data from advanced or recurrent NSCLC patients who were treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab at ten institutions in Japan between January 2016 and September 2018 were analyzed. Eligible patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of pre-existing ILD. A total of 461 NSCLC patients were enrolled, 412 without ILD (Non-ILD group) and 49 with ILD (ILD group). The response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) of the ILD group were not inferior to those of the Non-ILD group [RR: 49.0 % (24/49) vs. 30.1 % (124/412), P